(Norris is) lucky he’s not facing five counts of murder because that is what police were expecting. -- Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Kellee Koncki

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Police call it “The Labor Day Massacre.”

Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Kellee Koncki told a jury although two people were killed on Sept. 3, 2012, there easily could have been five dead from the early morning shooting spree she says was carried out by Michael Norris.

The Kent County Circuit Court jury heard opening statements from Koncki and defense attorney Christopher Dennie during the first day of evidence and testimony on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Koncki told the jury that during the trial she will bring witnesses that will prove Norris, 25, is guilty of two counts of felony murder, two counts of attempted murder, assault with intent to rob and five counts of felony use of a firearm.
If convicted in the homicides, Norris would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole after serving two years on the firearm charges..

Among the witnesses Koncki said she will produce is Manuel “Macho” Rosado, who was with Norris the night they got a .22-caliber handgun and decided to “hit a lick,” a euphemism for robbery.

The unfortunate, random targets of this alleged robbery were Felix Romeo Reyes-Santos, 45, Baldomero Perez-Perez, 36, and Alvaro Carrillo-Menendez, 22, shot near Burton Street and South Division Avenue as they exited Rau’s Party Store. The three were drunkenly carrying cases of Bud Lite and walking down the street.

Koncki said the defendant inexplicably starts shooting at the unarmed men.

“Once he starts shooting, he doesn’t stop,” Koncki said. “(Norris is) lucky he’s not facing five counts of murder because that is what police were expecting.”

Reyes-Santos was shot five times in the back and died in the middle of Burton Street. Carrillo-Menendez was shot in the head and died instantly. Perez-Perez survived despite being shot in the mouth. Koncki said Perez-Perez will testify.

Minutes after the first shooting, two men were shot near Griggs Street and Buchanan Avenue. Koncki said those men will tell the jury that Norris approached them saying he was being chased by police and asking the men for a place to hide. When the men refused to provide Norris a place to hide, he opened fire on them, authorities say.

Cesar Rojas was shot in the chest and his friend Ariel Vasquez was shot in the head and back. Both survived

“(Norris) doesn’t try to rob them, he just shoots them after they refuse to help him hide from police,” said Koncki.

Among those who will testify are former friends, an uncle and others who say that Norris confessed to the shooting.

Koncki said the police spent a year investigating before finally making an arrest in the case. She said most of the non-victim witnesses were not happy to cooperate with police and many changed their stories as time went on.

Koncki said investigative subpoenas forced some of the witnesses to testify under oath.

Dennie told the jury it needs to keep in mind that the witnesses they will hear from are, in many cases, known liars who got plea deals to provide testimony.

Dennie pointed out that Rosado was given a deal that will allow him to be released in May although he allegedly provided the gun and accompanied Norris on the alleged killing spree.

Dennie said the victims can’t identify Norris as the shooter.

“These witnesses have an agenda,” Dennie said. “A very personal agenda of preserving their own freedom.”

Testimony will continue Wednesday in a trial expected to last all week.